Bookmarker



April 13, 1954 R. H. LUTHER 2,674,972

BOOKMARKER Filed March 4, 1952 INVENTOR ATTORN EYS Patented Apr. 13, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE This invention reiates tobook markers of the type adapted to be detachably connected to a book cover and usable with books of .diiferent 'sizes.

Bookmarkers of thistype are usually connected to a book cover by a pair of clip-like members adapted to fit over the respective upperand lower edges of the cover, the members being interconnected by flexible means. The flexible means interconnecting the members usually comprises :either anielastic elemenaor an extension formed .on each of the members and telescopingly and 'frictionally engaging each other. However, if the clip-like members are interconnected. as described above, it often occurs that the members become dislocated with respect to .the aforementioned cover edges in the handling of the book, causing the user great inconvenience. Therefore, in the present invention, I contemplate providing an improved means for interconnecting two such clip-like members, the arrangement being such that the members may be easily and securely connected to books of different sizes. In the present invention, 1 further contemplate providing a line marker which is movable both longitudinally of a page and transversely thereof to mark a particular column on the page.

One object of the invention is to prcvide a book marker which may be easily and securely connected to booksof different sizes without marring or disfiguring the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a linermarker which'is movable both longitudinal- :ly of a page and transversely thereof to mark a particular column on the page.

Still another objectof the invention is to provide a book marker of the character set forth which maybe economically produced, is simple inoperation, and which may be compactly folded so that it can be-carried in ones pocket.

To theseand other ends, the inventionconsists :inthe novel features and combinations of parts to be hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is anelevation of an open book having :my invention :applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view talrenon line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the line marker of the invention;

Fig.4 is a'perspective view of a detail of the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another detail of the invention.

To illustrate the preferred embodiment of my invention'l have shown in Fig. -1 of the drawings 5 Claims. (01. 116119) an open .book designated generally by the numeral Hi, which book is as usual provided with front and back covers H and I2, and which is provided with the usual printed pages it.

The book marker of the present invention com- .prises a clip or generally U-shaped member Hi, see Fig. constructed of sheet metal or :plastic material and fitting over the upper edge of the cook cover 1.2, as shown in Fig. 1. Another member 15, see Fig. 5, generally similar to the member l'dymay be fitted over the lower edge of the cover 12, as also shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. '4 and 5, each of the members it and I5 is provided with a short leg It to lie adjacent the inner surface of the cover l2, and .a longer leg I! to lie adjacent the outer surface-of the cover 22.

A tape or ribbon ;|8 is provided having one end thereof in fixed relation to the clip-like member "i i. Theaforementioned end of the tape it may be conveniently'disposed between the legs .I B and i"! and suitably secured to the leg H, as at 19, see Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig.2, the tape 13 extends downwarclly from the aforementioned end thereof, the tape being directed longitudinally of the book cover l2 and forming a first ply 29 adjacent the outer surface of the cover 12.

The tape l8 passes outwardly of the lower Clip-like member 15 and then through a first elongated aperture 2| formed in the leg 11 thereof. The tape l8 then passes inwardly of the lastmentioned leg l1, and then through a second elongated aperture .22 formed in the same leg 1! a distance below the aperture 2 l. The tape again passes outwardly of the same leg I1, and then through a third and similar aperture 23 formed in theclip member [5 adjacent the point of origin of the leg I]. The tape it; extends between the bight portion of the member l5 and. the lower edge of the book cover 12, as shown in Fig. 2,

and then passes upwardly adjacent the inner surface of the cover i2, and longitudinally thereof,

forming a second ply 24.

The tape I8 passes outwardlyof the'clip member M, and then passes through a first elongated aperture 25 formed in the leg i5 thereof. The

tape it then passes inwardly of the same leg 15, and then through a second and similar aperture 25 formed in the clip member [4 intermediate the legs LIE and IT thereof. A continuingportion of the tape [8 extends outwardly from the aperture 26 and is of substantial length. The last-mentioned portion of the tape It serves a purpose to be explained hereinafter.

As shown in Figs. 4 and 5,*each of the aforementioned apertures in the clip members I4 and I5 is of a length slightly in excess of the width of the tape I 8, and is of a width slightly in excess of the thickness of the tape I8 so that the tape is closely confined therein. As seen in Fig. 2, the plies and 24 of the tape are drawn taut, thereby retaining the clip members It and I5 in firm engagement with the respective upper and lower edges of the cover I2. As also seen in Fig. 2, the member I4 and the tape I8 provide a loop disposed around the book cover I2, the member. I5 being threaded on the loop and the loop being adjustable to fit over the covers of books of different sizes.

The tape I8 is movable with respect to the clip members I4 and I5 threaded thereon. However, it is to be noted that such movement is resisted owing to the above-noted manner in which the members I4 and I5 are threaded on the tape I8, and owing to the manner in which the members I4 and I5 maintain the tape I8 in proximity to the book cover when the members I4 and I5-are in operative position, as shown for example in Fig. 2. The resistance to movement of the tape I8 with respect to the member I5 is particularly noticeable when the members I4 and I5 are in the position shown in Fig. 2 and the ply 20 of the tape is under tension and the ply 24 of the tape is loose. Under these circumstances, the member I5 will retain the ply 20 under tension so that the members I4 and I5 remain firmly engaged with the respective upper and lower edges of the book cover I2, a feature which is very desirable. This feature facilitates tightening of the aforementioned loop around a book cover.

As shown in Fig. 1, the portion of the tape I8 extending outwardly from the upper aperture 26 in the clip member I4 may be extended over the upper edge of a book page to be marked, such as the page indicated by the numeral 21, and then extended downwardly and longitudinally of the page 21 to form a third ply 28 providing a page marker. The tape I8 has a free end.

The line marker of the invention comprises an elongated element or follower 29 of flattened C shape in cross section, constructed of sheet metal or plastic material, and threaded on the tape I8 so as to be slidable on the third ply 28 thereof. As shown in Fig. 3, the element 29 may be provided with two apertures 30 formed in each side thereof and separated by a narrow bridge 3 I. A

slide bar 32 having a slot 33 formed therein extendin from a point adjacent one end thereof to a point adjacent the other end thereof, is disposed in the apertures 30 so as to be slidable transversely of the element 29, each bridge 3I bein disposed in the elongated slot 33 and providing a stop to limit movement of the slide bar 32. The slide bar 32 provides a marker which is movable longitudinally of a page and transversely thereof to mark a particular column and word on the page. From the foregoing it will be evident that the book marker of the invention may be applied to a book cover in a manner such that the third ply 28 of the tape is disposed between two adja cent columns on a page so that the marker or slide bar 32 may be used to mark any line appearing in either column.

' To inhibit dislocation of the line marker and to facilitate opening the book to the marked page, the third ply 28 of the tape may be drawn taut and secured to the clip member I5 connected to the book cover so that the tape follower 29 is pressed against the page to be marked and fIiC-f tionally held thereby. To these ends, there may 4 be an extension provided on the leg I6 of clip member I 5 doubled back thereon and forming a plate part 34 disposed at right angles to the leg I6 adjacent its point of origin, as shown in Fig. 5. Also as shown in Fig. 5, a spring clamp 35 is provided having one end thereof suitably fastened to the plate 35 as at 36, and having the other end thereof rolled as at 31 and providing a snap catch engageable with an edge portion 38 of the plate. The arrangement is such that the third ply 28 of the tape may be disposed between the plate 34 and the spring clamp 35 and clamped therebetween.

To remove the book marker from the book cover I2, the third ply 28 of the tape is released from the aforementioned clamp and the tape I8 advanced through the clip member I4 in a direction to loosen the second ply 24 of the tape. The tape I8 may then be grasped between the apertures 22 and 23 of the clip member I5 and advanced through the same to loosen the first ply 20 of the tape. When the ply 20 of the tape is loose, the aforementioned loop may he slipped laterally in a direction away from the bookbinding and thereby separated from the book. To apply the book marker to a book cover, the same operations may be followed, but in reverse order.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that the book marker of this invention may be applied to either the front or back cover of a book.

The form of the invention illustrated herein is to be considered as illustrative only, and it'is to be understood that various modifications and changes may be made in the details without departing from the principles of the invention or the scope of the claims.

What I claim is:

1. A book marker comprising two hook members adapted to fit over the respective upper and lower edges of a book cover and'having their shanks terminating short of one another, and a tape having one end thereof fixed to the shank 'of one of said hook members and being threaded through a plurality of openings formed in the shank of the other hook member and spaced apart longitudinally thereof, said tape having a portion thereof disposed and clamped between a portion of said other hook member and the corresponding edge of the book cover and extending around the latter, whereby said one of the hook members may be drawn down tightly on the corresponding edge of the book cover and secured thereto by the tape, the other end of the tape being adapted to be interposed between pages of the book to provide a page marker.

2. A book marker comprising two hook members adapted to fit over the respective upper and lower edges of a book cover and having their shanks terminating short of one another, and a tape having one end thereof fixed to the shank of one of said hook members and forming a first ply threaded through a plurality of openings formed in the shank of the other hook member and spaced apart longitudinally thereof, said tape having a portion thereof disposed and clamped between a portion of said other hook member and the corresponding edge of the book cover and extending around the latter, the tape forming a second ply threaded through a plurality of openings formed in the hook end of said one of the hook members, said hook members inhibiting relative dislocation of the book cover and said plies of the tape, the other end of the tape being adapted to be interposed between pages of the book to provide a page marker.

3. In a book marker, a tape having one end thereof connectible to a book and having a portion thereof adapted to extend longitudinally of a page between two columns thereof, a traveler on said tape portion slidable longitudinally thereof, and a bar extending transversely of the traveler and slidable therein transversely of the latter to mark a line in either column.

4. A book marker comprising two hook members adapted to fit over the respective upper and lower edges of a book cover and having their shanks terminating short of one another, a tape having one end thereof fixed to the shank of one of said hook members and threaded through the shank of the other hook member forming a first ply, said tape being threaded through the hook end of said one of the members forming a second ply, and said tape forming a third ply adapted to extend longitudinally of a page between two columns thereof, a traveler on said third ply slidable longitudinally thereof, and a bar extending transversely of the traveler and slidable therein transversely of the latter to mark a line in either column, said other hook member being provided with clamping means engageable with the third ply of the tape to clamp the latter to the last-mentioned hook member.

forming a third ply adapted to be interposed between pages of the book to provide a page marker, said other hook member being provided with clamping means engageable with said third ply of the tape to clamp the latter to the last-mentioned member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 139,936 Ward et al June 17, 1873 634,768 Sawyer Oct. 10, 1899 890,438 Mutzenberg June 9, 1908 1,269,025 Watts June 11, 1918 1,322,796 Kissel Nov. 25, 1919 

